From a museum obsessed with death to a sunken fort lost to time, Louisiana is no stranger to wacky and off-beat attractions. Check out these quirky stops the next time you’re in the Bayou State.
Museum of Death (New Orleans)
If you’re obsessed with all things macabre, stop by the Museum of Death on the edge of New Orleans’s French Quarter. Tour morbid exhibits filled with oddities like shrunken heads and human and alligator skeletons. Check out antique mortician’s tools used to preserve corpses and read bone-chilling letters written by serial killers. Beware: you may lose your appetite in the exhibit dedicated to cannibalism. Explore at your own risk!
Fort Proctor (St. Bernard Parish)
St. Bernard Bayou is home to a never-used fortress from the pre-Civil War era. Built in 1856, Fort Proctor was abandoned after being damaged by a hurricane. Today, it’s only accessible by boat, slowly being claimed by Lake Borgne. Rent a kayak from the nearby marina (also accessible from Shell Beach) and paddle to its eerie remains.
Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum (Gibsland)
True crime junkies will love the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum in Gibsland. Located in the diner where the duo apparently ate their last meal, this small museum features a variety of artifacts and memorabilia on display. View gruesome photos of the aftermath of the shootout and artifacts like Bonnie’s hat, a shotgun that once belonged to Clyde, and a recreation of the car they died in (complete with bloody mannequins). There’s also a short film that features footage from after the famous ambush, and the curator onsite is always ready to answer questions.
Abita Mystery House (Abita Springs)
Considered Louisiana’s most eccentric attraction, the Abita Mystery House is home to folk art, a vintage service station and an exhibition hall filled with junk (literally). See an antique barbed wire collection, a 100-year-old Creole cottage and a “UFO” wreck. Before you leave, check out the House of Shards – a cottage decked out entirely in a mosaic of shattered pieces of tiles, pottery, and glass – and say hi to alligator-animal hybrids Darrell the Dogigator and Buford the Bassigator.
Chauvin Sculpture Garden (Chauvin)
In Chauvin, Louisiana, bricklayer and artist Kenny Hill created a strange sanctuary of life-size concrete statues on his bayou side property over the span of a decade before vanishing in 2000. Walk among weeping stone figures, angels brandishing swords, soldiers, God, a jazz quartet, and many sculptures of the artist himself. There’s even a 45-foot-tall lighthouse complete with statues scaling its sides. If you love everything weird, this should be on your bucket list.
Fisherman’s Castle on Irish Bayou (New Orleans)
Check out how wetland royalty live at Fisherman’s Castle on Irish Bayou just outside New Orleans city limits. Simon Villemarette built this hurricane-proof, miniature medieval castle on the bayou’s banks in 1981 for the World’s Fair. The two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom fisherman’s camp sits on private property, so you’ll have to take photos and admire the whitewashed walls, tiny turrets, and majestic spires from a respectful distance.
Giant Root Beer Mug (Baton Rouge)
If you love root beer, you have to check out the Giant Root Beer Mug at the Frostop in Baton Rouge. Used as a piece of advertising for this old-school diner since the 1950s, this large mug beckons travelers to stop in for a glass of the icy cold beverage and a bite. Try one of their mouthwatering po’boys or burgers and wash it down with a frosty root beer!
Mardi Gras World (New Orleans)
Hop on a streetcar and head to New Orleans’s Central Business District, where the spirit of Mardi Gras is celebrated year-round at Mardi Gras World. Tour the giant studio where artists craft massive, colorful floats for over 40 parades annually. Start with a quick lesson on the festival’s history, then get an up-close look at the floats under construction in the studio, including paper mâché jesters, larger-than-life alligators, and enormous Mardi Gras masks fit for giants.
Giant Frog Statue (Rayne)
In Rayne, Louisiana, also known as the Frog Capital of the World, you’ll find a giant frog statue ready to greet you. Decked out in a top hat and tuxedo, this charming (and kind of weird) work of art makes for a cool photo op if you’re passing through. While in town, check out the hand-painted frog murals.
Prehistoric Park (Henderson)
If you’re looking for a roaring good time, head to Prehistoric Park, Louisiana’s only attraction dedicated to dinosaurs. Here, you’ll encounter towering dinosaur replicas on the dinosaur trail – watch out for the rampaging T-Rex and the grazing triceratops herd – gem mining, fossil hunting and interactive exhibits. Next door, Cajun Fast Track offers mini-golf, go-karting, and arcade games.
